Website Visitors

Like most website operators, BDI collects non-personally-identifying information of the sort that web browsers and servers typically make available, such as the browser type, language preference, referring site, and the date and time of each visitor request. BDI’s purpose in collecting non-personally identifying information is to better understand how BDI’s visitors use its website. From time to time, BDI may release non-personally-identifying information in the aggregate, e.g., by publishing a report on trends in the usage of its website.

BDI also collects potentially personally-identifying information like Internet Protocol (IP) addresses for logged in users and for users leaving comments on our blogs. BDI only discloses logged in user and commenter IP addresses under the same circumstances that it uses and discloses personally-identifying information as described below, except that blog commenter IP addresses are visible and disclosed to the administrators of the blog where the comment was left.

Gathering of Personally-Identifying Information

Certain visitors to BDI’s website choose to interact with BDI in ways that require BDI to gather personally-identifying information. The amount and type of information that BDI gathers depends on the nature of the interaction. For example, we ask visitors who comment on our blog to provide a username and email address. In each case, BDI collects such information only insofar as is necessary or appropriate to fulfill the purpose of the visitor’s interaction with BDI. BDI does not disclose personally-identifying information other than as described below. And visitors can always refuse to supply personally-identifying information, with the caveat that it may prevent them from engaging in certain website-related activities.

Aggregated Statistics

BDI may collect statistics about the behavior of visitors to its websites. For instance, BDI may use spam screened by the Akismet service to help identify spam. BDI may display this information publicly or provide it to others. However, BDI does not disclose personally-identifying information other than as described below.

Protection of Certain Personally-Identifying Information

BDI discloses potentially personally-identifying and personally-identifying information only to those of its employees, contractors and affiliated organizations that (i) need to know that information in order to process it on BDI’s behalf or to provide services available at BDI’s website, and (ii) that have agreed not to disclose it to others. Some of those employees, contractors and affiliated organizations may be located outside of your home country; by using BDI’s websites, you consent to the transfer of such information to them. BDI will not rent or sell potentially personally-identifying and personally-identifying information to anyone. Other than to its employees, contractors and affiliated organizations, as described above, BDI discloses potentially personally-identifying and personally-identifying information only in response to a subpoena, court order or other governmental request, or when BDI believes in good faith that disclosure is reasonably necessary to protect the property or rights of BDI, third parties or the public at large. BDI takes all measures reasonably necessary to protect against the unauthorized access, use, alteration or destruction of potentially personally-identifying and personally-identifying information.

Cookies

A cookie is a string of information that a website stores on a visitor’s computer, and that the visitor’s browser provides to the website each time the visitor returns. BDI uses cookies to help BDI identify and track visitors, their usage of BDI’s website, and their website access preferences. BDI visitors who do not wish to have cookies placed on their computers should set their browsers to refuse cookies before using BDI’s websites, with the drawback that certain features of BDI’s websites may not function properly without the aid of cookies.

Business Transfers

If BDI, or substantially all of its assets were acquired, or in the unlikely event that BDI goes out of business or enters bankruptcy, user information would be one of the assets that is transferred or acquired by a third party. You acknowledge that such transfers may occur, and that any acquirer of BDI may continue to use your personal information as set forth in this policy.

Comments

Comments and other content submitted to Akismet anti-spam service are not saved on our servers unless they were marked as false positives, in which case we store them long enough to use them to improve the service to avoid future false positives.

Privacy Policy Changes

Although most changes are likely to be minor, BDI may change its Privacy Policy from time to time, and in BDI’s sole discretion. BDI encourages visitors to frequently check this page for any changes to its Privacy Policy. Your continued use of this site after any change in this Privacy Policy will constitute your acceptance of such change.